Gusle: Difference between revisions
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'''Gusle''' (Serbian Cyrillic: гусле) is a genre of music in which a player or "guslar" recites epic poetry with the instrument it is named after. Although recognized as a part of Serbia's culture and intangible heritage by UNESCO, gusle is also performed in other areas of the Balkans such as parts of Bosnia and Hercegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania. | '''Gusle''' (Serbian Cyrillic: гусле), some times referred to as the '''fiddle''',<ref name=":1">"[https://gajde.com/56-2/gudacka-glazbala/ Gudačka glazbala]". gajde.com. Retrieved 23 May 2024.</ref> is a genre of music in which a player or "guslar" recites epic poetry with the instrument it is named after. Although recognized as a part of Serbia's culture and intangible heritage by UNESCO, gusle is also performed in other areas of the Balkans such as parts of Bosnia and Hercegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania. | ||
==Characteristics== | ==Characteristics== | ||
The gusle itself is a single-stringed lyre played by a bow. Double stringed gusle exist though are typically relegated to parts of the Dalmatian region and Bosanska Krajina.<ref>[https://gajde.com/56-2/gudacka-glazbala/ Gudačka glazbala]. gajde.com. 9 May 2024.</ref><ref>[https://guslemj.blogspot.com/2015/09/gusle-u-hrvatskoj-gusle.html Gusle]. guslemj.blogspot.com. September 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2024.</ref> Animals such as horses, goats, and eagles may be adorned on the top of the gusle. Carved portraits of historical, biblical, or mythological figures, places, or national symbols such as a šahovnica (checkerboard) or a 4S may also be on the gusle, usually placed at the base of the neck. The gusle plays five notes and the peg on the neck is used to tune the instrument to match the performer's vocal range.<ref name=":0">Jadran Jeić Baguzej. "[https://www.matica.hr/hr/492/gusle-u-zuljani-na-poluotoku-peljescu-26084/ Gusle u Žuljāni na poluotoku Pelješcu]". ''Hrvatska Revija 3''. 2016. 15 May 2024.</ref> Topics typical for the genre are historical events and/or figures,<ref>[https://www.all-croatia.com/Croatian_music_and_dance.html Croatian music and dance]. ''all-croatia.com'' 9 May 2024.</ref><ref>"[https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/singing-to-the-accompaniment-of-the-gusle-01377 Singing to the accompaniment of the Gusle]". UNESCO. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2024.</ref> though following the breakup of Yugoslavia, current events such as political arrests or assassinations are also covered. | The gusle itself is a single-stringed lyre played by a bow. Double stringed gusle exist though are typically relegated to parts of the Dalmatian region and Bosanska Krajina.<ref>[https://gajde.com/56-2/gudacka-glazbala/ Gudačka glazbala]. gajde.com. 9 May 2024.</ref><ref>[https://guslemj.blogspot.com/2015/09/gusle-u-hrvatskoj-gusle.html Gusle]. guslemj.blogspot.com. September 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2024.</ref> Animals such as horses, goats, and eagles may be adorned on the top of the gusle.<ref>"[https://www.gusle.me/o-guslama Par riječi o guslama]". gusle.me. Retrieved 23 May 2024.</ref> Carved portraits of historical, biblical, or mythological figures, places, or national symbols such as a šahovnica (checkerboard) or a 4S may also be on the gusle,<ref name=":2">"[https://blog.migk.hr/2022/04/10/guslarenje/ Guslarenje]". blog.migk.hr. 10 April 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2024.</ref> usually placed at the base of the neck. The gusle plays five notes and the peg on the neck is used to tune the instrument to match the performer's vocal range.<ref name=":0">Jadran Jeić Baguzej. "[https://www.matica.hr/hr/492/gusle-u-zuljani-na-poluotoku-peljescu-26084/ Gusle u Žuljāni na poluotoku Pelješcu]". ''Hrvatska Revija 3''. 2016. 15 May 2024.</ref> Topics typical for the genre are historical events and/or figures,<ref>[https://www.all-croatia.com/Croatian_music_and_dance.html Croatian music and dance]. ''all-croatia.com'' 9 May 2024.</ref><ref>"[https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/singing-to-the-accompaniment-of-the-gusle-01377 Singing to the accompaniment of the Gusle]". UNESCO. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2024.</ref> though following the breakup of Yugoslavia, current events such as political arrests or assassinations are also covered.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
==== Gusle in Serbia ==== | ==== Gusle in Serbia ==== | ||
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==== Gusle in Croatia ==== | ==== Gusle in Croatia ==== | ||
In Croatia, gusle was present in the 16th century.<ref>"[https://www.grude-online.info/srbi-prisvojili-pjevanje-uz-gusle-uzbuna-u-hrvatskoj-bih-crnoj-gori-i-albaniji/ Srbi prisvojili pjevanje uz gusle, uzbuna u Hrvatskoj, BiH, Crnoj Gori i Albaniji]". grude-online.info. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2024.</ref><ref>Mladen Vuković. "[https://www.imotska-krajina.hr/gusle-moje-sve-manje-poje/ Gusle moje sve manje poje]". imotska-krajina.hr. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.</ref> Gusle originates in Dalmatia and the coastal areas of the Dinaric region. It is thought to have been either brought by South Slavs during migration or given to Slavs by Illyrians.<ref>"[https://tradicionalniinstrumenti.blogspot.com/2015/07/gusle.html gusle]". ''tradicionalniinstrumenti.blogspot.com''. July 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2024.</ref> Unfortunately it is an art that is dying out due to political and ideological reasons<ref name=":0" /> with most of the Croat Guslar population concentrated abroad within Hercegovina and other styles, namely Tamburica and Klapa taking its place. | In Croatia, gusle was present in the 16th century.<ref>"[https://www.grude-online.info/srbi-prisvojili-pjevanje-uz-gusle-uzbuna-u-hrvatskoj-bih-crnoj-gori-i-albaniji/ Srbi prisvojili pjevanje uz gusle, uzbuna u Hrvatskoj, BiH, Crnoj Gori i Albaniji]". grude-online.info. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2024.</ref><ref>Mladen Vuković. "[https://www.imotska-krajina.hr/gusle-moje-sve-manje-poje/ Gusle moje sve manje poje]". imotska-krajina.hr. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.</ref> Gusle originates in Dalmatia and the coastal areas of the Dinaric region. It is thought to have been either brought by South Slavs during migration or given to Slavs by Illyrians.<ref>"[https://tradicionalniinstrumenti.blogspot.com/2015/07/gusle.html gusle]". ''tradicionalniinstrumenti.blogspot.com''. July 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2024.</ref> Aside from the Dalmatian double-stringed guslars, Croatia has the "Dubrovnik style" of gusle; a gusle with a low and longer string. Guslars from Konavle, a place situated in a Dalmatian sub-region within the Dubrovnik county had long, improvised performances similar to Bosnian guslars. These guslars would also incorporate facial expressions and gestures for immersion purposes. Much like Serbia, Croatia has and valued blind guslars.<ref name=":2" /> Unfortunately it is an art that is dying out due to political and ideological reasons,<ref name=":0" /> with most of the Croat Guslar population concentrated abroad within Hercegovina and other styles, namely Tamburica and Klapa taking its place. | ||
==== Gusle in Bosnia and Hercegovina ==== | ==== Gusle in Bosnia and Hercegovina ==== | ||
Bosnia, like Croatia, is said to have epic poetry as far back as the 16th century. Despite this, epic poetry in Bosnia would not be properly documented until the late 19th century.<ref>Jasmin Talam. "[https://journals.uni-lj.si/MuzikoloskiZbornik/article/view/3514 Creation, Transmission and Performance: Guslars in Bosnia and Herzegovina]". ''Musicological Annual''. University of Ljubljana. 17 June 2015.</ref> Interestingly, gusle was important in the night life during Ramazan (Ramadan) as Bosnians would gather as a community kafanas where guslars would frequent. Guslars were expected to perform the entire night which is why their performances are longer than usual. Unlike Serbia and Montenegro where performances were mostly private, Bosnian guslars would be more prominent as Turkish and Muslim officials would also appoint Muslim guslars in courts. By the 20th Century, most guslars were from residential or rural areas and in present day parts of Hercegovina and Republika Srpska still have a | Bosnia, like Croatia, is said to have epic poetry as far back as the 16th century. Despite this, epic poetry in Bosnia would not be properly documented until the late 19th century.<ref>Jasmin Talam. "[https://journals.uni-lj.si/MuzikoloskiZbornik/article/view/3514 Creation, Transmission and Performance: Guslars in Bosnia and Herzegovina]". ''Musicological Annual''. University of Ljubljana. 17 June 2015.</ref> Interestingly, gusle was important in the night life during Ramazan (Ramadan) as Bosnians would gather as a community kafanas where guslars would frequent. Guslars were expected to perform the entire night which is why their performances are longer than usual. Unlike Serbia and Montenegro where performances were mostly private, Bosnian guslars would be more prominent as Turkish and Muslim officials would also appoint Muslim guslars in courts. By the 20th Century, most guslars were from residential or rural areas and in present day parts of Hercegovina and Republika Srpska still have a prominent gusle scene.<ref>Kristina Bijelic. "[https://www.ljudigovore.com/issue/people-say-1920/article/the-crooked-bow-the-art-of-gusle-and-the-oral-tradition-among-the-serbs/4/ The Crooked Bow: The Art of Gusle and the Oral Tradition among the Serbs]". ''ljudigovore.com''. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2024.</ref> Bosnian guslars are relatively rare with one of the more notable performers living in Montenegro. It largely fell out of popularity due to ideological and cultural differences over time.<ref>"[https://index.ba/gusle-su-stoljecima-bile-i-bosnjacki-instrument/ Gusle su stoljećima bile i bošnjački instrument]". ''index.ba''. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2024.</ref><ref>"[https://bosnae.info/index.php/guslarstvo-kod-bosnjaka-su-bile-bosnjacki-instrument-2 Guslarstvo kod Bošnjaka – gusle su stoljećima bile i bošnjački instrument]". 12 November 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2024.</ref><ref>Jan L. Perkowski. "Interview with a Serbian Moslem". ''New Zealand Slavonic Journal''. 1986. pp. 93- 120. Retrieved 23 May 2024.</ref> | ||
Within Hercegovina, guslars would emigrate to Croatia to escape Ottoman rule and subsequent persecution. Ironically in present day, most of the Croat guslar population reside within the region. | |||
Most releases are singles as they only contain one track that typically lasts about 30 minutes. On cassette format, these are usually split into 15-minute segments. | '''Releases of gusle on home media'''Most releases are singles as they only contain one track that typically lasts about 30 minutes. On cassette format, these are usually split into 15-minute segments. | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 04:39, 24 May 2024
| Gusle | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Central Asia |
| Cultural origins | 5th Century Serbia |
| Typical instruments |
|
Gusle (Serbian Cyrillic: гусле), some times referred to as the fiddle,[1] is a genre of music in which a player or "guslar" recites epic poetry with the instrument it is named after. Although recognized as a part of Serbia's culture and intangible heritage by UNESCO, gusle is also performed in other areas of the Balkans such as parts of Bosnia and Hercegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania.
Characteristics
The gusle itself is a single-stringed lyre played by a bow. Double stringed gusle exist though are typically relegated to parts of the Dalmatian region and Bosanska Krajina.[2][3] Animals such as horses, goats, and eagles may be adorned on the top of the gusle.[4] Carved portraits of historical, biblical, or mythological figures, places, or national symbols such as a šahovnica (checkerboard) or a 4S may also be on the gusle,[5] usually placed at the base of the neck. The gusle plays five notes and the peg on the neck is used to tune the instrument to match the performer's vocal range.[6] Topics typical for the genre are historical events and/or figures,[7][8] though following the breakup of Yugoslavia, current events such as political arrests or assassinations are also covered.[1]
Gusle in Serbia
Historically, the art of singing with the gusle in Serbia and can be traced as far back as the 5th century.[9] Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, the gusle was Serbia's instrument while Bosnia would assign itself the saz and Croatia the tamburica.[10]
Gusle in Croatia
In Croatia, gusle was present in the 16th century.[11][12] Gusle originates in Dalmatia and the coastal areas of the Dinaric region. It is thought to have been either brought by South Slavs during migration or given to Slavs by Illyrians.[13] Aside from the Dalmatian double-stringed guslars, Croatia has the "Dubrovnik style" of gusle; a gusle with a low and longer string. Guslars from Konavle, a place situated in a Dalmatian sub-region within the Dubrovnik county had long, improvised performances similar to Bosnian guslars. These guslars would also incorporate facial expressions and gestures for immersion purposes. Much like Serbia, Croatia has and valued blind guslars.[5] Unfortunately it is an art that is dying out due to political and ideological reasons,[6] with most of the Croat Guslar population concentrated abroad within Hercegovina and other styles, namely Tamburica and Klapa taking its place.
Gusle in Bosnia and Hercegovina
Bosnia, like Croatia, is said to have epic poetry as far back as the 16th century. Despite this, epic poetry in Bosnia would not be properly documented until the late 19th century.[14] Interestingly, gusle was important in the night life during Ramazan (Ramadan) as Bosnians would gather as a community kafanas where guslars would frequent. Guslars were expected to perform the entire night which is why their performances are longer than usual. Unlike Serbia and Montenegro where performances were mostly private, Bosnian guslars would be more prominent as Turkish and Muslim officials would also appoint Muslim guslars in courts. By the 20th Century, most guslars were from residential or rural areas and in present day parts of Hercegovina and Republika Srpska still have a prominent gusle scene.[15] Bosnian guslars are relatively rare with one of the more notable performers living in Montenegro. It largely fell out of popularity due to ideological and cultural differences over time.[16][17][18]
Within Hercegovina, guslars would emigrate to Croatia to escape Ottoman rule and subsequent persecution. Ironically in present day, most of the Croat guslar population reside within the region.
Releases of gusle on home mediaMost releases are singles as they only contain one track that typically lasts about 30 minutes. On cassette format, these are usually split into 15-minute segments.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Gudačka glazbala". gajde.com. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ↑ Gudačka glazbala. gajde.com. 9 May 2024.
- ↑ Gusle. guslemj.blogspot.com. September 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ↑ "Par riječi o guslama". gusle.me. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Guslarenje". blog.migk.hr. 10 April 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Jadran Jeić Baguzej. "Gusle u Žuljāni na poluotoku Pelješcu". Hrvatska Revija 3. 2016. 15 May 2024.
- ↑ Croatian music and dance. all-croatia.com 9 May 2024.
- ↑ "Singing to the accompaniment of the Gusle". UNESCO. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ↑ "Singing along with the gusle". serbia.com. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ↑ Maksimir i Mirogoj. "Varave gusle". portalnovosti.com. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ↑ "Srbi prisvojili pjevanje uz gusle, uzbuna u Hrvatskoj, BiH, Crnoj Gori i Albaniji". grude-online.info. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ↑ Mladen Vuković. "Gusle moje sve manje poje". imotska-krajina.hr. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ↑ "gusle". tradicionalniinstrumenti.blogspot.com. July 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ↑ Jasmin Talam. "Creation, Transmission and Performance: Guslars in Bosnia and Herzegovina". Musicological Annual. University of Ljubljana. 17 June 2015.
- ↑ Kristina Bijelic. "The Crooked Bow: The Art of Gusle and the Oral Tradition among the Serbs". ljudigovore.com. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ↑ "Gusle su stoljećima bile i bošnjački instrument". index.ba. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ↑ "Guslarstvo kod Bošnjaka – gusle su stoljećima bile i bošnjački instrument". 12 November 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ↑ Jan L. Perkowski. "Interview with a Serbian Moslem". New Zealand Slavonic Journal. 1986. pp. 93- 120. Retrieved 23 May 2024.